New Speakers of Irish in the Global Context

This volume is the first full-length publication to systematically unpack and analyze the linguistic practices and ideologies of "new speakers" specifically in an Irish language context. The book introduces the theoretical foundations of the new speaker framework as it manifests itself in the Irish setting, describes its historical precedents, and traces its evolution to today. The book then draws upon a rich set of data and research methods, including participant observation and ethnographic fieldwork to examine the new speaker phenomenon in Irish in greater detail. Areas of analysis include new speakers' language practices and usage and the ways in which they position their linguistic identities both within their respective communities and in juxtaposition with "native" speakers. While the book's focus is on Irish, the volume will contribute to a greater understanding of new speaker practices and ideologies in minority language contexts more generally, making this key reading for students and scholars in sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, language policy and planning, anthropology, and Irish studies.

Bernadette O'Rourke is Professor of Sociolinguistics and Hispanic Studies at the University of Glasgow. She is author of Irish and Galician in the European Context (Palgrave 2011) and co-author (with Gabrielle Hogan-Brun) of the Palgrave Handbook of Minority Languages and Communities (2019). She was Chair of COST Action on New Speakers in a Multilingual Europe (2013-17). She is a Fellow of the Smithsonian Institute for Folklife on the Sustaining Minoritized Languages in Europe (SMiLE) project (2018-present). John Walsh is a Senior Lecturer in Irish in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at the National University of Ireland, Galway. He is author of several publications in Irish and English about Irish language policy, Irish language media, Irish and socioeconomic development and new speakers of Irish. John was a leading member of the COST Action on New Speakers in a Multilingual Europe (2013-17) and jointly led two Working Groups (on new speakers and indigenous minority languages and on new speakers and subjectivities).

Contents Acknowledgements Figure 1 Map illustrating Language Planning Process Figure 2 Transcription protocol Chapter 1: Re-thinking the Sociolinguistics of Irish Introduction Disrupting old ideas, creating new tensions Giving a voice to new speakers John's story Bernie's story Outline of book Chapter 2: New speakers, new paradigms? Building a theoretical framework Introduction New speaker research: origins and developments New speakers and broader debates around language and society Native speaker ideologies in language revitalisation movements New speakers, new paradigms? New speakers of minority languages: questions of authenticity, authority, and legitimacy Rethinking new labels and frameworks Conclusion Chapter 3: National, official and minoritised: the context and background of Irish Introduction Revival period and new speakers Phases of language policy and new speakers Gaeltacht Legal and administrative status Irish in the education system Standardisation Irish in Northern Ireland Recent policy initiatives and Irish language networks Conclusion Chapter 4: Becoming a new speaker of Irish Introduction Fieldwork conducted by John Clár Karen Roibeárd Cian Jason Fieldwork conducted by Bernie Máire Joanne Liam Micheál Jane Conclusion Chapter 5: New speakers of Irish and identities Introduction Irish speakers and identities Primary Irish-speaking identity Irish language identity linked to standard language or dialect Ambiguous or mixed linguistic identity Primary English-speaking identity Intersection of linguistic and sexual identities Conclusion Chapter 6: Ciorcail chomhrá - 'safe spaces' for the cúpla focal Introduction The ciorcal comhrá phenomenon Safe spaces and 'breathing spaces' for the language New speakers at Cluain Lí Tá cúpla focal agam - 'I have the few words' The ciorcal comhrá as a 'safe place' to use Irish Expert speakers and the native speaker ideology Beyond the ciorcal comhrá: the Gaeltacht as an authentic space Conclusion Chapter 7: Conclusions New speaker stories Theoretical insights from the study Policy implications New speakers and the Gaeltacht References Index